Written answers
Wednesday, 28 June 2023
- Department of An Taoiseach
- Covid-19 Pandemic
16. To ask the Taoiseach if he can confirm that the public inquiry into nursing home deaths during Covid, which he promised in January of this year, has been or will be established; and if he can...
- Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
- Passport Services
17. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if a passport application by a person (details supplied) will be reviewed and expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31446/23]
- Official Engagements
19. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he plans to have a bilateral meeting with his Croatian counterpart. [31471/23]
- Consular Services
20. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the Irish Consulate General or Vice Consul in Texas, USA, has spoken formally with the Dallas Police Department Chief of Police in 2022...
- Passport Services
21. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade whether documentation was lost for a passport application (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31527/23]
- Northern Ireland
23. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has had recent contact with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in relation to the need to provide an exemption to the...
- Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment
- Pension Provisions
24. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment to examine a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31404/23]
- Electricity Supply Board
25. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he has met the Chairperson of the ESB in the past three months. [31470/23]
- Renewable Energy Generation
26. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will set out the grants and other assistance available to owners of new houses who wish to make their homes more...
- Solar Energy Guidelines
27. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment how his Department arrived at the estimation (details supplied) as included in his Statement of early May 2023 when he...
- Recycling Policy
28. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he has considered a submission from microbrewers which identifies the restrictions on innovation and on exporting...
- Mining Industry
29. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he can outline what meetings, if any, took place between a company (details supplied), Government Ministers and a...
- Broadband Infrastructure
31. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if broadband capacity will be increased in an area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Department of Defence
- Public Sector Pensions
32. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if clarification will be provided in relation to the deduction of €304 from monthly pension pay in the case of a person (details...
- Defence Forces
33. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will provide any update of the position in respect of a member of the Irish Defence Forces (details supplied); and if he will make a...
- Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport
- Road Traffic Offences
34. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on measures the Government, including all relevant Departments, in collaboration with appropriate agencies...
- National Car Test
35. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport how many people are currently waiting on NCT appointments in NCT centres (details supplied); the average waiting times for same once an...
- Driver Test
38. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of people who are currently awaiting an appointment date to sit their driving test, broken down by test centre, in tabular...
- Bus Services
39. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to allocate additional capacity to PSO bus routes in Meath. [31474/23]
- Electric Vehicles
40. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number and locations of charging points for electric vehicles in County Meath. [31475/23]
- Fuel Oil Specifications (1 comment)
41. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is aware of the concerns of owners of older cars and other motorised machinery whose machinery is not compatible with e10; the steps...
- Work Permits
42. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport what assistance measures he can put in place, or what measures he would consider, to assist bus companies (details supplied) with the high...
- Driver Test
43. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport what options are available to a person who has lost possible employment because they cannot get a driving test (details supplied); and if...
- Public Sector Pensions
44. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the details of the incremental increases that have been provided to members of pension schemes in the CIÉ group of companies over the...
- Rail Network
45. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if, in light of the increase in demands on the Northern Rail Line that the Dart+ Coastal North project will bring, his Department has...
- Department of Finance
- Assisted Decision-Making
47. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will consider extending the six-month expiration on section 24 arrangements under the Credit Union Act 1997, as the required documentation, medical...
- Tax Reliefs
48. To ask the Minister for Finance if the family of a deceased person can claim tax relief on nursing home expenses on their relative's behalf; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Insurance Coverage
49. To ask the Minister for Finance if any provisions are in place for people with life-long illnesses who have been declined mortgages despite financial capacity because their life-long illness...
- Tax Code
50. To ask the Minister for Finance if work is underway in his Department to review taxation rules in relation to sports utility vehicles and other large vehicles for personal use; if so, if...
- Department of Public Expenditure and Reform
- Brexit Supports
51. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the criteria pertaining to the Brexit Adjustment Reserve will be changed to allow draw-down of funding beyond the end of 2023; and if...
- Flood Risk Management
52. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his Department will provide assistance to a person (details supplied) following severe flooding at their home; and if he will make a...
- Climate Change Policy
53. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the measures the Government is taking in response to the estimated €1.9 billion in climate harmful spending identified in Budget...
- Office of Public Works
54. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the refurbishment works that were carried out on behalf of the OPW at Trim Castle over the past 18 months; and the refurbishment works...
- State Bodies
55. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide a complete list of all State agencies; the associated line Department; the total number of employees and the Exchequer...
- Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
- Family Reunification
56. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 428 of 25 April 2023, if he intends to increase the minimum salary for non-EEA healthcare...
- Workplace Discrimination
57. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of cases taken under disability grounds for discrimination under the Employment Equality Acts 1998-2015 to the Workplace...
- Co-operative Sector
59. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he is considering amending legislation to provide a more inclusive definition of what constitutes a co-operative; the consultation...
- Work Permits
60. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will expedite the process of issuing work permits to drivers at a company (details supplied) in order that the company can...
- Business Supports
61. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the level of funding set aside for the post Brexit: market growth and diversification grant in 2023. [31519/23]
- Work Permits
64. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the total number of employment permit applications which have been received by his Department since 1 January 2023 to 31 May 2023; the...
- Department of Education and Skills
- Legislative Measures
65. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the progress to date in fulfilling the Programme for Government commitment to enact the Education (Student and Parent Charter) Bill 2019; further...
- School Transport
66. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if an application for a school bus ticket will be considered in the case of the daughter of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a...
- Special Educational Needs
67. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she is aware that a school (details supplied) is without ASD classes from second class up to sixth class, that the current school building the...
- School Accommodation
70. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on the application for additional accommodation by a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on...
- Special Educational Needs
71. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the full-year cost to recruit ten additional WTE special educational needs organisers, in tabular form. [31479/23]
- Departmental Schemes
72. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a school (details supplied) could be considered for inclusion in the energy retrofit pathfinder programme; if this programme will be expanded...
- Special Educational Needs
73. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if and when a special educational needs organiser will be urgently assigned to the north Kildare area, with particular reference to the...
- Schools Building Projects
75. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if payment will issue without further delay in respect of a project completed some time ago (details supplied); and if she will make a statement...
- School Admissions
76. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will examine the appeal of a child (details supplied) who has been refused a remote access boarding grant to study at an all-Irish...
- Departmental Circulars
77. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 276 of 25 April 2023, for an update on any monitoring or analysis underway in her Department as regards the...
- School Textbooks
78. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the steps she will take to seek a reduction in the cost of schoolbooks at both primary and secondary school level including e-books; her views on...
- Special Educational Needs
79. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the SNA allocations for 2023/2024. [31584/23]
- School Funding
80. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the spending per funding head for primary and post-primary schools for the full-year 2022 and to date in 2023. [31585/23]
- Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
- Departmental Bodies
81. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of current Fáilte Ireland board members who are directors or shareholders in companies that have received finance,...
- Northern Ireland
82. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she has had recent contact with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and with the Tourism Authorities in Northern Ireland...
- Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government
- Energy Conservation
83. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the amount funding that is available to Dublin City Council for the energy efficiency retrofit programme; and if he has any...
- Vacant Properties
84. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he is aware of the 77 units at a vacant housing estate in Ballinrobe, County Mayo; the plans he has to ensure they are...
- Housing Schemes
85. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 109 of 14 June 2023, if he will clearly indicate the amount of funding given to Kildare...
- Vacant Properties
86. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if, with regard to the vacant property refurbishment grant, he can clarify how people who wish to apply for the grant but...
- Traveller Accommodation
87. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to outline the refurbishment spends and number of units in each case of Traveller accommodations, per local authority, from...
- Building Regulations
89. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 32246/17, if he plans to update the building standards and building classifications, as...
- Wildlife Protection
90. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will ensure that the views outlined at the seminar last February in relation to the Open Seasons Order, and at subsequent...
- Building Regulations
93. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if his Department was instructed by the NSAI to adopt the European Standards EN771-3 and EN 12620 into the Irish building...
- Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection
- Environmental Policy
95. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she intends to ensure that the new fund being created through the auto-enrolment pensions scheme will not invest in fossil...
- Birth Certificates
96. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the procedure to be followed by a person (details supplied) to change their daughter's name on her birth certificate; and if...
- Social Welfare Benefits
97. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to provide a breakdown of the number of supplementary welfare allowance applications received for 2021, 2022 and to date in...
- Social Welfare Eligibility
101. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if an urgent review of an eligibility for disability allowance can be undertaken in the case of a person (details supplied)...
- Social Welfare Benefits
102. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the last time that the carer’s allowance means test was reviewed; if the means limits were increased under this...
- Social Welfare Appeals
104. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a decision will be made on the disability allowance appeal by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a...
- Social Welfare Payments
105. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will advise on a payment for a person (details supplied). [31565/23]
- State Pensions
106. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will review a contribution history record on behalf of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement...
- National Transport Authority
107. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will set out the data sets she receives from the National Transport Agency’s ITS number; the number of official...
- Social Welfare Appeals
108. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if this Parliamentary Question will be taken as notice of appeal of the decision to refuse a disability allowance in the case...
- Department of Justice and Equality
- Domestic Violence
109. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the total number of bed spaces available and/or occupied in Tusla-funded domestic violence refuges on 26 May 2022. [31396/23]
- Departmental Records
111. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 1107 of 21 March 2023 (details supplied), if she will provide an update on the matter;...
- Citizenship Applications
112. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality in the context of processing applications for citizenship, if she will detail the stages and processes involved in Section 16...
- Residency Permits
113. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the progress to date in the progressing of the application for residency pursuant to the undocumented scheme in the case of a...
- Citizenship Ceremonies
114. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality how often citizenship ceremonies are held in a year; where these ceremonies are held; when the next ceremony will take place;...
- An Garda Síochána
115. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of cases that the Meath divisional drugs unit has dealt with in the years of 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023,...
- Family Reunification
117. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she is aware of the difficulties being experienced by non-EEA health care assistants in acquiring permission from her...
- Legislative Reviews
118. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if, in relation to the OASA Review Group Report, she will make a commitment to implement the Review Group’s...
- Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
- Pesticide Use
119. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine for an update on the review of the use of metaldehyde as a plant protection product (details supplied); and if he will make a...
- Brexit Supports
121. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will ensure that funding is allocated from the Brexit Adjustment Reserve for primary farm producers, in view of the challenges...
- Greyhound Industry
122. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of non-coursing greyhounds who were microchipped and registered on the RCETS whose year of birth was 2021. [31530/23]
- Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
- Residential Institutions
124. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of reports of alleged sexual abuse of residents in designated residential disability centres that...
- Workplace Discrimination
125. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he intends to hold any review of the workings of the Employment Equality Acts 1998-2015 or the Equality...
- Children in Care
126. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of minors taken into State care in 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023 respectively; the number of...
- Assisted Human Reproduction
127. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the Government’s position on implementing the recommendations of the recent report titled: ‘Review...
- Children in Care
128. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he or his Department have engaged with Tusla to discuss the issues highlighted in reports (details supplied)...
- International Protection
129. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when a service provider (details supplied) will receive payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Legislative Measures
130. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when he will make the order or orders required to bring the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act...
- International Protection
131. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department has a policy of offering alternative accommodation to those who have a right to reside in the...
- Departmental Correspondence
132. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will review correspondence (details supplied); and undertake to have the matter reviewed. [31576/23]
- International Protection
133. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the procedure to be followed by a refugee (details supplied) wishing to relocate to care for two people in need...
- Department of Health
- Pharmacy Services
134. To ask the Minister for Health if he has conducted or will conduct a review of pharmacy dispensing fees and the extent of service provision by community pharmacists; if he has engaged or...
- Healthcare Policy
135. To ask the Minister for Health the progress he is making on expanding the national heel-prick test, given that 28 June is International Neonatal Screening Day; how many diseases babies born...
- Health Services Waiting Lists
136. To ask the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) is on the HSE waiting list for a procedure. [31395/23]
- Health Services Staff
137. To ask the Minister for Health the number of cognitive behavioural therapists in CHO9; the average waiting time for a patient; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31398/23]
- Residential Institutions
138. To ask the Minister for Health the number of reports of alleged sexual abuse of residents in residential nursing homes that HIQA has received since 2021 directly through unsolicited concerns...
- Nursing Education
139. To ask the Minister for Health if the changes made on foot of the McHugh Report on student nurses have been implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31409/23]
- Hospital Appointments Status
140. To ask the Minister for Health if he will expedite an appointment for a person (details supplied). [31410/23]
- Healthcare Policy
141. To ask the Minister for Health the progress made to date on expanding the national heel-prick test; the number of diseases babies born today in Ireland are being tested for currently; when...
- Medicinal Products
142. To ask the Minister for Health the annual cost of providing adult incontinence pants and inserts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31413/23]
- Health Services
143. To ask the Minister for Health to provide information on the palliative care service in Wicklow; the hours that this service is available; if there are plans to increase the arrangements to...
- Health Services Staff
144. To ask the Minister for Health the number of palliative care teams and staff members in CHO6 and CHO7 Wicklow at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31416/23]
- Hospital Staff
147. To ask the Minister for Health if he will detail for each individual public/voluntary hospital the number employed in wholetime equivalent terms in each category (details supplied) in each...
- Covid-19 Pandemic
148. To ask the Minister for Health the action, if any, which has been taken on recommendation two of the final report of the Special Committee on Covid-19 Response by carrying out a review into...
- Nursing Homes
149. To ask the Minister for Health the number of nursing home beds provided by each voluntary NGO provider; the location, by CHO; the costs of this provision per nursing home for 2021 and 2022;...
- Substance Misuse
152. To ask the Minister for Health the number of alcohol and drug treatment centres provided by each voluntary NGO provider; the location of each centre; the costs of this provision per centre...
- Primary Medical Certificates
155. To ask the Minister for Health the status of a primary medical certificate for a child (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31456/23]
- Health Services Staff
156. To ask the Minister for Health the number of cognitive behavioural therapist positions funded through the HSE, by CHO area; for a breakdown of vacant positions; and if he will make a...
- Health Services Waiting Lists
158. To ask the Minister for Health the waiting lists for eye care with the HSE, by age cohort and length of wait, in tabular form. [31477/23]
- Family Reunification
161. To ask the Minister for Health if he is aware of the difficulties being experienced by non-EEA health care assistants in getting permission to have close family members join them in Ireland,...
- Hospital Appointments Status
163. To ask the Minister for Health the reason an elderly person (details supplied) from County Mayo would be offered hospital appointments in Kildare and Derry, rather than Galway University...
- Mental Health Services
164. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on CAMHS services (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31524/23]
- Health Services Staff
165. To ask the Minister for Health if the funding for counselling trainees will be equivalent to the amount offered to educational psychology trainees; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Dental Services
166. To ask the Minister for Health the reason that a medical card holder (details supplied) cannot obtain dental services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31528/23]
- Departmental Correspondence
167. To ask the Minister for Health to respond to matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31550/23]
- Healthcare Policy
168. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1117 of 13 June 2023, if he can provide a copy of this new policy with specific details in relation to it; and if he will...
- Health Services
170. To ask the Minister for Health if he intends to establish a new national contract for vasectomy provision for general services medical card holders; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Substance Misuse
172. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the reopening of Keltoi. [31621/23]
- Hospital Appointments Status
173. To ask the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive a date for a hospital admission to rehab, Letterkenny University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
175. To ask the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive their Covid recognition payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31662/23]
- Department of Education and Skills
- Further and Higher Education
176. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if tutors currently working in the further education sector will retain the right to receive social welfare payments during holiday breaks if...
- Student Accommodation
177. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding student accommodation deposits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31635/23]
